Sabbath School Study Hour - The Book of Mark - 3rd Quarter 2024

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This quarter we will explore the story of Jesus through the book of Mark. It is a most remarkable story, told in a terse, fast-moving style with little commentary from the Gospel writer himself. He simply tells the story and then lets the words, the deeds, the actions, speak for themselves regarding the life and death of Jesus of Nazareth.

Sabbath School Study Hour: Season 83 - 13 Episode s

83x1 - Lesson: 1 - The Beginning of the Gospel
July 6, 2024
This week's first step will be to learn about Mark as reported in Scripture, to see his early failure and eventual recovery. Then the study will turn to the opening section of Mark with a look forward to where the story is headed and a look backward at why a failed and then restored missionary would write such a text.
83x2 - Lesson: 2 - A Day in the Ministry of Jesus
July 13, 2024
Scripture: Mark 1:17 The Gospel of Mark recounts the calling of four disciples and describes a Sabbath in Capernaum and what followed. This “Sabbath with Jesus” at the beginning of Mark gives the reader a sense of who Jesus is. In the entire section for this week’s lesson there are very few of His words recorded: a brief call to discipleship, a command to a demon, a plan to visit other locations, and the healing of a leper with instructions to show himself before a priest to be clean. The emphasis is on action, particularly healing people. The Gospel writer likes to use the word immediately to illustrate the fast-action movement of Jesus’ ministry.
83x3 - Lesson: 3 - Controversies
July 20, 2024
The Gospel writer uses a technique that is called “Sandwich Stories.” This narrative pattern appears at least six times in Mark. In each case some important aspect of the nature of Jesus and His role as Messiah, or the nature of discipleship, is the focus. This week, we will read some accounts about Jesus and see what we can learn from them.
83x4 - Lesson: 4 - Parables
July 27, 2024
Scripture: Mark 4:24-25 For many years scholars have argued over the meaning and interpretation of Jesus’ parables: How to interpret them, what they mean, why Jesus used them, what kind of lessons they were intended to reveal, and how literally they were to be taken, or whether they were purely allegory, and so forth. Obviously we are not going to solve all these issues in this week’s lesson. Instead, we are going to look at them and, by God grace, come away with an understanding of the points Jesus made through these parables.
83x5 - Lesson: 5 - Miracles around the Lake
August 3, 2024
The main goal of Mark's Chapter 5 dramatic stories is to let the reader see who Jesus is. He is the One able to calm a storm, heal a demoniac, heal a woman who simply touches His clothes, raise a dead girl, preach in His home town, send out His disciples on a preaching mission, feed 5,000 with a few loaves and fishes, and walk on water—incredible displays of power that are drawing the disciples closer to an understanding that He is the Son of God.
83x6 - Lesson: 6 - Inside Out
August 10, 2024
Scripture: Mark 7:15 This week’s study is Mark 7 and the first half of Mark 8. At the beginning of Mark 7, Jesus stirs up controversy by His rejection of religious tradition. However, He does it in a way that is strikingly supportive of something deeply relevant to Christian life today.
83x7 - Lesson: 7 - Teaching Disciples: Part I
August 17, 2024
Scripture: Mark 8:34 In the last part of Mark 8 through the end of Mark 10, Jesus focuses on teaching His disciples about His journey. In these chapters, He will give predictions about the cross. These will be followed by special instruction on discipleship. These powerful lessons remain relevant today.
83x8 - Lesson: 8 - Teaching Disciples: Part II
August 24, 2024
Scripture: Mark 10:45 This week covers Mark 10, completing the special section in which Jesus teaches His disciples in preparation for the cross. About half of the chapter deals with the disciples themselves, and the rest with issues important to discipleship but told through the lens of others who interact with Jesus. Pharisees come and argue with Him over the subject of divorce. Parents bring their children for Jesus to bless. A rich man asks about eternal life, and a blind man asks for sight. This chapter of Mark carries important teachings about what it means to follow Jesus, particularly as it relates to living in the here and now: marriage, children, how to relate to riches, and the reward and cost of following Him.
83x9 - Lesson: 9 - Jeruselem Controversies
August 31, 2024
Scripture: Mark 11:25 Lesson: 9 In this week’s lesson, when Jesus arrives in Jerusalem, He has a series of six controversies with the religious leaders. The religious leaders come to confront, confound, and defeat Jesus, but they never succeed. Part of this week’s lesson will include analyzing just what it is that brings people into opposition to God and consideration of what Christians can do to break through prejudice and speak to the hearts of those resisting the Spirit’s call.
83x10 - Lesson: 10 - The Last Days
September 7, 2024
Scripture: Mark 13:26-27 This week’s lesson starts with a very brief story at the end of Mark 12, where Jesus makes a profound statement about a small act by a widow. The main portion of this week’s lesson, however, deals with Mark 13, a striking prophecy about the fate of the Jerusalem temple and more. This chapter, along with its parallels in Matthew 24 and Luke 21, tell about both the fall of Jerusalem and beyond, even to the end of the world. Jesus not only predicts the future but also instructs His disciples both then and now in how to prepare for the coming trials.
83x11 - Lesson: 11 - Taken and Tried
September 14, 2024
Scripture: Mark 14:36 This week’s lesson focuses on Mark 14, beginning with the fifth Sandwich Story, which interlinks two opposite actions in relation to Jesus. This is followed by the Last Supper, followed by His struggle in Gethsemane. There He is arrested and taken before the leaders to be tried. The trial scene is linked with Peter’s denial of Jesus, forming the sixth and last of the Sandwich Stories in Mark. Again, two opposite actions occur, but by an ironic twist, they affirm the same truth. Throughout the narrative, two contrasting story plots march hand in hand. In a crisp style, Mark sets before the reader these clashing plots while revealing the triumph of Jesus.
83x12 - Lesson: 12 - Tried and Crucified
September 21, 2024
Mark 15 is the heart of the Passion Narrative. It presents the trial of Jesus, His condemnation, the mockery by the soldiers, His crucifixion, and then His death and burial. The events in this chapter are presented in stark, crisp detail, likely because the author let the facts speak for themselves. This week, from the question of Pilate, “ ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ ” to the mocking soldiers to the sign above the cross to the mocking of the religious leaders, “ ‘He saved others; Himself He cannot save’ ” to the unexpected appearance of Joseph of Arimathea, the chapter is filled with painful ironies that nevertheless reveal powerful truths about the death of Jesus and what it means.
83x13 - Lesson: 13 - The Risen Lord
September 28, 2024
Scripture: Mark 16:6 The crucifixion of Jesus proved the death knell to the hopes and faith of His disciples. It was a dark weekend for them as they not only grappled with their Master’s death but feared for their own lives, as well (John 20:19). In Mark 16, the final chapter in his Gospel, we will look at what followed His death. This study will close with a challenge to the reader of Mark to take the gospel throughout the world.

Sabbath School Study Hour - The Book of Mark - 3rd Quarter 2024

Sabbath School Study Hour: Season 83 - 13 Episode s

83x1 - Lesson: 1 - The Beginning of the Gospel

83x2 - Lesson: 2 - A Day in the Ministry of Jesus

83x3 - Lesson: 3 - Controversies

83x4 - Lesson: 4 - Parables

83x5 - Lesson: 5 - Miracles around the Lake

83x6 - Lesson: 6 - Inside Out

83x7 - Lesson: 7 - Teaching Disciples: Part I

83x8 - Lesson: 8 - Teaching Disciples: Part II

83x9 - Lesson: 9 - Jeruselem Controversies

83x10 - Lesson: 10 - The Last Days

83x11 - Lesson: 11 - Taken and Tried

83x12 - Lesson: 12 - Tried and Crucified

83x13 - Lesson: 13 - The Risen Lord

Sabbath School Study Hour: All seasons

S1: The Gospel Of John - 1st Quarter 2004

S79: Ephesians - 3rd Quarter 2023

S80: God's Mission - My Mission - 4th Quarter 2023

S81: The Book of Psalms - 1st Quarter 2024

S82: The Great Controversy - 2nd Quarter 2024

S83: The Book of Mark - 3rd Quarter 2024

S84: Themes in the Gospel of John - 4th Quarter 2024